Cindy Balistreri Arts Leadership Award

Cindy Balistreri awarding Carrie Mills in 2018

Since 2009, the Cindy Balistreri Award for Excellence in Arts Education has recognized outstanding practitioners of arts education in Sarasota County Schools with a $500 stipend for professional development and/or arts education in the classroom.  Principals nominate applicants and the winner is announced in the spring.

The award is named for Cindy Balistreri, who served for 38 years as a music educator and Fine Arts Program Specialist for Sarasota County Schools and was a statewide leader in arts education.  She retired in 2017 as Education Manager and Patriot Plaza Manager for the Arts & Cultural Alliance.

Past recipients
Carrie Mills
Alma Vega
Deb  Markley
Retsy Lauer
Patrice Kennedy
Jackie Henson-Dacey
Joanna Fox
Joanna Davis-Lanum